List finder



H, L. NEILSEN July 4, 1950 LIST FINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1945 Iii ll,l"ll,,"',',,,,,,,,,, I 1 n llllmlllllllmllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR H\LDHUR L.NEILSEN, M ATTORIQEY y 1950 H. L. NEILSEN 2,513,422

LIST FINDER INVENTOR HILDHUR L, NEILSEN,

BY"%7W nTToRNEY Patented July 4, 1950 LIST FINDER Hildaur L. Neilsen, Metuchen, N. J., assignor to The Bates Manufacturing Company,

West

Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 24, 1945, Serial No. 584,577

- 11 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to an improved list finder and more particularly to a push-button controlled list finding device which is unusual in its simplicity and effectiveness of operation.

Devices of the present character, as heretofore constructed, have been provided with a slidable selector by means of which the desired list could they could not conveniently be operated with one hand and after considerable use were apt to stick or jam due to wear with consequent misalignment of the parts. Often separate sliding and depressing movements were required for operation. In some cases the devices were unnecessarily complicated and expensive to manufacture.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a push-button operated list finder which can be actuated by simple finger pressure to expose to view the desired list or information;

Another object of the invention is to provide a list finder having an unusually simple construction which has a long efiective life and which is not subject to's'ticking or jamming due to misalignment caused by wear.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a list finder in which a selected list can be exposed to view in a rapid, accurate manner by a single application of pressure in a single direction.

Other objects of the invention reside-in the various structural combinations and details hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new list finder in a closed condition;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the list finder of Fig. 1 taken along line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but in which the list finder is in partially open condition;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the list finder taken along line 55 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is a disassembled detail view on an enlarged scale of a fragment of the inner end of one of the index cards of thelist finder illustrating the manner in which the cards are mounted.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the various views of the drawings;

My new list finder comprises a cover member H], a base member If hingedly connected to'the I cover member and a set of index cards or the like l2in this instance thirteen such cards are provided in a stack or pack. As will be hereinafter more fully explained the number of index cards is equal to the number ofpush-buttons provided in the cover member I 0.

Cover member I0 is a metallic stamping of generally rectangular shape with a depending marginal flange I3, one portion 14 of which is bevelled and provided with a row of apertures in which the release or push-buttons [5 are disposed. As will be observed from Fig. 1 alpha-' betical indicia are placed on the upper surface of the cover member l0 adjacent the release buttons l5, it being understood that the indicia may be of any desired nature, number and disposition depending upon the particular list finder and the nature of the information to be exposed to view upon operation of one of the release buttons.- The release buttons fit snugly within the aper-' tures provided for them and each such button has actuation at will by the user.

Within cover member ID a spring steel piece is disposed which can be either unitary with the cover member or, as shown, spot welded, brazed or otherwise suitably secured in place. This spring steel piece is madeup of a U-shaped body portion [1, the forward part of which is formed'into a plurality of spring fingers "3 equal in number to release buttons 15. Beyond the spring fingers is a pair of downturned apertured hangers l9 and beyond the hangers is a pair'of supporting extensions 20 having inwardly projecting lips.

2|. A wire bail 22 extends transversely of cover member l0 beneath spring fingers l8, turning rearwardly at right angles to pass over lips 2| and then through hangers l9 from which it extends downwardly and somewhat forwardly to a point near the base member I I and finally horizontally outwardly through a bayonet slot 23 in each of the upstanding sides 24 of the base member.

As will be understood from Fig. 2 in particular;

spring fingers l8 slope slightly downwardly to points below and in contact with release buttons l5 after which they curve backwardly, then downwardly and finally obliquely downwardly and rearwardly, terminating at the inneredge' of the rearwardly extending ortion of front 3 cover flange l3. Bail 22 lies just below the j fingers l8 in contact with or in close juxtaposition to the undersurfaces thereof. constitutes a releasing and locking means operating under the influence of the spring fingers in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained.

This bail 22 Base member II has a pair of index card supports formed by striking up the base stampin to provide a pair of front and rear upturned members 26 on which cards I2 rest in fiat but slightly inclined position as best shown in Fig 2. The number of cards is equal to the number of spring fingers and release buttons and. the forward edges of the cards are cut away-as in dicated at 21 to form tabs of successively-decreasing widths from the top card to the bottom card of the stack in a manner per se known and shown in Fig. 4. The rearward portion of each card I2 is notched out at 23 on each side, providing'a' pair of tangs 29-insertiblerinto the-sockets; 30, each. of which hasman"apertured-i lug 31 illustrated'in Fig. 4-and through-the lugs. 31 to configured as shown indetail'in-Figtfiz Eyelets; 32:pass :throughthe cover-"and" base flanges-as:

serve'as stub-1 shafts constituting a'hinge'pone motion: The eyelets are peenedorrturned:down" in the usual manner to form a" permanent as-- sembly. Washers or washer 'likei-portion:33a'aret provided for-the usual purpose. A-coil spring a l,

. ing'from the scope:orfprinciplesfhereofJ The: number of index cards-and release. buttons the normally under tension; is: anchoredrat one end base member I I The exact :m'anner of attache ing: the spring and' the locations of the end" anchors thereof'is subject to'variationv-butcisrsl.

to the cover fiange"l3;"andsat-the other'endctothe preferably that shown; namely; anaperturedr centrallug 35 :in'cover flange I3 andra short post 36 rising from base member: I [.3

Rubber or plastic: or other: non scratching friction"feet"(not shown) are'providedionithe bottom-of'the list finden. Release'buttonswrare' maderrof :molded rubber "or: plastic '01? any? other suitable material. in any desired tor' required rmanner and may; be:

a made of any one of a number ot?metals'.or7alloys;-'

It may: have a metallic: surface of 1' bright or? mattecharacter or may be enamell'ed 'iniany desiredcolor; The'listfin'der has the advantage of'being' veryifiat' and'.free-from externalipro-L jections, except as to thepush-buttonstheme selves;

Use'and operation of ithe new list finder. are exceedingly simple: Assuming" that the. list" finder is closed as inzFig. 2, the user PLISI'lESiOIIi one of the-buttons I5 with aifinger tode'press? f the same. pressed; Pressure on such-buttonilfi -causes but; ton ."base I 6'Tto1-act'%onfthe underlying. portion? of?" Assume that :the CD button is despring finger I 8: bending itinto :thesshape sh'own? in-Fig:w 3." Thisr-tctionzdepresses the transverse portioniof :ba'ilor reIeasetbar-ZZ; causing the end."

portions" of fthebail .ban: to slide rearwardl'y in slots 523' thus unlockingi cover. member I05. At the same time'thefterminus iof the "spring finger" moves off qlthecedge fofifiange 25 iuntil that. edge passes" over the: first i hump? and locks in" the V'-sha'ped" depression; therebeyond as clearly shown-in Fig; 3 with'theterminus or free endTofthe fingerlunderlyin'g: the tab on the "correspond ing card; This movement of-thespring finger" and bail causes'aicorrespondi'ng movementfof projecting lips2 I and; supporting extensions 20;" placing the latter under:spring tensionas. Sincethe cover member has become unlockedrit is free: to rise to" open position under the influence =of coil spring:

The list finder may be finished" 4 34 which is enabled to contract. As cover member l0 rises the terminus of the depressed spring finger picks up the corresponding index card tab directly thereabove and, of course, all alphabetically preceding cards so that the CD index forced over the edge of fiange 25 after'which it snaps back to the position of Fig. 2 under the urging-of members-20 and 2| and the inherent resilience of the spring steel of the spring finger itself. As this occurs release button l5 returns to the position of Fig. 2? and the bail bar ends again slide toi the forward-lends: of islots: 23; lockin'gz the list" finder in; closed? position. ready for use and arepetition of:the described vcyclel'of operations at the will .of' the user.

It is to be understood that' the foregoing is presented as. illustrative-and: not as limitative'andw thatpwithin th'e purview :of theappended claims;

various r additions; omissions; modifications and-t substitutions "may. be resorted. to cwithout departalphabetical: or. other sequential nature of the lists and thei'arrangement thereof may. "be". con

siderably varied? depending 1 upon: the intended Thatishowniir'i the= drawings i the: type employed for tfin'ding use of any particular.' list' finder;

telephone numbers? in alphabetically? arranged lists. It isfurther-" to belt understood that the angular movement? of f the cover 1 member: of the:

list finder is greater than that indicated in Fig. 3 in order'toi provide ample visibility for the lists'exposed to view: Limitationsof space'made' it convenient'to show: only about a: 45'Jdegreein movement of the cover'member" and angular *m'ovements'up toisapproximately 90 degrees more or less are to" be deemedi'to be atdefinite partof the invention;

distortion or frictional slidingcorifbending'movementsiand therefore arelong lasting. They can,

moreover, be replaced when necessary to change the lists' in an extremely simplet manner? by' slightly 'arching 'th'em transversely to? slip. the

tangs 29 out of or into the sockets 30.

I'claim: 1. .A. device of the character described com prising a base, a plurality-of superimposed cards mounted on said bSSBTOIi swinging movement; a

cover hingedly connected to said' base, means normally urging said cover away from said-base; means for releasablyholdifigi 'said coverin a position adjacent said base, and' means 'forselectively connecting to said cover for movement therewith any number-of'saidcards, said means including afinger piece movably mounted on said cover for "each earth and an element actuated therebyfin'to aposition to engage the corresponding card upon movement of said cover away from saidbase', and'means-"common to all of said finger pieces for actuating said holding.means. to re lease said' cover upon movement of: any: of said finger pieces:

2;A- device of'the'. charactendescrib'edcomprising a base; arplura'lityof. superimposed; cards mounted on said-base for:swingingtmovement, a

It is alsoito be observed that the: index cardsv l2 are- .at nowtime subjected" to any i cover hingedly connected to said base, a finger piece movably mounted on said cover for each of said cards, and an element actuated by each finger piece into a position to engage the corresponding card upon movement of said cover away from said base, and means normally actuating said element into a position to clear said cards upon movement of said cover toward said base.

3. The device as defined in claim 1, with the addition of means for releasably locking said elements in said card-engaging positions.

4. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said elements are formed to releasably interlock with said cover in said card-engaging positions and said elements are released by engagement thereof with said base as the cover is moved toward said base.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is a spring finger connected at one end to said cover and engageable intermediate its ends by the corresponding finger piece.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is a spring finger connected at one end to said cover and engageable intermediate its ends by the corresponding finger piece and the other end portions of said fingers are formed to releasably interlock with said cover in said card-engaging positions.

'7. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is a spring finger connected at one end to said cover and engageable intermediate its ends by the corresponding finger piece and the other end portions of said fingers are formed to releasably interlock with said cover in said card-engaging positions and are released by engagement of the ends of said fingers with said base as said cover moves toward the base.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is a finger connected at one end to said cover and engageable by the corresponding finger piece, and said means releasably holding the cover adjacent said base includes a U-shaped bail having its arms pivotally connected to said cover and its main portion underlying all of said fingers to be actuated by any thereof.

9. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is a finger connected at one end to said cover and engageable by the corresponding finger piece, and said means releasably holding the cover adjacent said base includes a U-shaped bail having its arms pivotally connected to said cover and its main portion underlying all of said fingers to be actuated by any thereof, the extremities of said arms and said base having cooperatively engageable and disengageable portions to hold and release said cover respectively.

10. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elements is a finger connected at one end to said cover and engageable by the corresponding finger piece, and said means releasably holding the cover adjacent said base includes a U-shaped bail having its arms pivotally connected to said cover and its main portion underlying all of said fingers to be actuated by any thereof, the extremities of said arms and said base having cooperatively engageable and disengageable portions to hold and release said cover respectively, and spring means normally actuating said bail into a position to engage said cooperative portion on said base when the cover is closed.

11. A device as defined in claim 2 with the addition of means urging the cover into open position, and means for releasably holding the cover in closed position including a release bar having its central portion extending transversely of the cover beneath and in contact with all of said elements, whereby when any of said finger pieces is actuated said holding means is operated to release the cover.

HILDAUR L. NEILSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,710,331 Aberle Apr. 23, 1929 2,341,983 Faas Feb. 15, 1944 

